>San Francisco has had a "clean needle exchange program" for years, mainly to combat HIV and Hepatitis B. They have gotten pretty good results with epidemic containment, but I don't think those programs have actually pulled addicts out of the gutter for any longer than it takes for them to get a new clean needle...

It's in many states and North Carolina is one of the states that have this program. It's sponsored by the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition. However, I think Dragan's state: Virginia, is not one of the states with the program. Perhaps he should write his congressman...

Also, if Dragan is referring to methadone treatment practices, that is available in just about every state in the U.S. from private practicians and drug clinics. You can find them all over the U.S. by searching 'methadone clinics' online (there are a couple here in my town which accept insurance and provide it for free for those who cannot pay).

The problem with that method is that it exchanges an 'uncontrolled' short time high dosage use (heroin for example) for a more mild but long-term 'controlled' (usually lifelong and equally deadly) drug use.

A list:

http://www.methadonetreatment.net/view.php?uniqueID=10685&state=NC

There is a long list of clinics in Virginia:

http://www.methadonetreatment.net/VA.php?state=VA